islamic practises

Question 1

what’s the definition of shahada?

Answer 1

the muslim declaration of faith

Question 2

definition for salah/salat

Answer 2

prayer in arabic (second pillar of islam)

Question 3

definition for zakat

Answer 3

a payment mande annually under islamic law that is used for charitable & religious purposes, usually 2.5% of ones savings

Question 4

definition for sawm

Answer 4

fasting between sunrise and sunset during the month of ramadan

Question 5

definition of hajj

Answer 5

the pilgrimage to mecca that every muslim must take at least once in their lives

Question 6

definition for halal

Answer 6

lawful/permissable

Question 7

definition for haram

Answer 7

forbidden/unlawful

Question 8

definition for imam

Answer 8

the prayer leader of a mosque

Question 9

definition for eid-al-fitr

Answer 9

a holiday of breaking fast at the end of ramadan

Question 10

definition for eid-al-adha

Answer 10

the feast of the sacrifice, honouring the willingness of ibrahim to sacrifice his son, ishmael

Question 11

what’s jummah (friday prayer)

Answer 11

a congregational midday prayer on fridays - considered special. all men expected to attend a mosque, women can if they want to too

Question 12

definition for wudu (ablution)

Answer 12

ritual washing of face & feet before prayer

Question 13

definition for qibla

Answer 13

the direction muslims face during prayer, towards the ka’aba in mecca

Question 14

definition for kaaba

Answer 14

the shrine that ibrahim made after he was told to by allah, it is a sacred place and muslims circle it 7 times during hajj

Question 15

definition for hijab

Answer 15

a religious headscarf/modest clothing worn by muslim women, covering the head & body

Question 16

definition for iftar

Answer 16

a meal held at the end of the day during ramadan

Question 17

what do people do in id-ul-fitr?

Answer 17

• marks end of month-long fasting period of ramadan
• origins trace back to muhammad redirecting celebration from pre-Islamic traditions in Madinah
• celebrated for 1-3 days by gathering in mosques for special prayers
• wear new/best clothes & homes are decorated
• festivities include forgiving differences, helping less fortunate, enjoying special foods, remembering deceased by visiting cemeteries

Question 18

what do people do in id-ul-adha?

Answer 18

• known as “festival of sacrifice” or greater eid, commemorates prophet ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael for allah
• celebrated on 10th day of dhul-hijjah, lasts four days
• festival forms part of Hajj, but celebrated all over the world
• begins w prayers in mosque - imam preaches service about sacrifice
• animals slaughtered to remember Ibrahim’s sacrifice (but not allowed in britain)
• england: some would buy animal from slaughterhouse & keep 1/3 of meat, 1/3 to friends/family, 1/3 to poor (or money given instead)
• cards, presents, community celebrations often organised

Question 19

what do shi’as do in ashura?

Answer 19

• observe it as day of mourning, remembering tragic death of imam Hussein, prophet muhammad’s grandson, in battle of karbala
• they indulge in fasting, physical expressions of grief (like floggings), donate to charity to signify connection to his suffering
• re-enactments/plays performed to retell story of his death
• London - go to Marble Arch for procession of mourning & listen to speeches

Question 20

what do sunni muslims do for ashura?

Answer 20

• also celebrate it but refer to it as Day of Atonement & remember it as day when Israelites freed from egypt
• some believe it remembers day Nuh left ark after flood
• many fast voluntarily, give 2 charity, show kindness to family & poor, recite prayers, learn from Islamic scholars
• not such an important festival or solemn an occasion as it is for Shi’as

Question 21

what are all the movements of a rak’ah in prayer?

Answer 21

• standing: recite 1st chapter of Qur’an
• bowing: say in Arabic “Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest” 3 times
• return to upright position - make recitation praising god
• kneel: forehead, nose, hands, knees & toes touching floor (prostration)
• sit: recite “god is the greatest”
• once rak’ah complete, finish by saying “peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God” to one other

Question 22

(types of prayer) prayer at home: muslims allowed to pray at home but must…

Answer 22

perform wudu

Question 23

why is prayer important?

Answer 23

• it’s what God commanded Muslims to do
• creates greater awareness of God
• unites Muslims worldwide

Question 24

true or false: daily prayers are made up of one rak’ah

Answer 24

false, made up of a number of them

Question 25

what is a rak’ah?

Answer 25

a set sequence of actions and recitations (for prayer)

Question 26

what are the ten obligatory acts in shi’a islam?

Answer 26

- ten duties - include all 5 pillars except shahadah which is covered separately - jihad - Khums - encouraging people to do what’s good - discouraging them from what’s wrong - tawallah: loving towards friends of God inc. muhammad & imams - tabarra: disassociating from enemies of God

Question 27

how many times to sunni muslims have to pray?

Answer 27

5 set times during a day - worked out from sunrise and sunset so change slightly each day

Question 28

how many times do shi’a muslims pray in a day?

Answer 28

often combine midday & afternoon prayers so they pray three times a day

Question 29

what is it important that muslims do before they pray?

Answer 29

wudu, need to be spiritually clean

Question 30

mosques have _ rooms set aside for washing (____ and ______)

Answer 30

mosques have **2** rooms set aside for washing (**male** and **female**)

Question 31

all mosques have a ______ which shows the _________ of Makkah from the mosque

Answer 31

all mosques have a **mihrab** which shows the **direction** of Makkah from the mosque

Question 32

who leads the prayers at a mosque?

Answer 32

an imam

Question 33

men and women pray at ____ ____ but in ________ _____

Answer 33

men and women pray at **same time** but in **separate space**

Question 34

why is zakah important?

Answer 34

- acknowledges everything they own comes from God - literally means 2 purify or cleanse - charity helps to purify the soul by removing selfishness

Question 35

do all muslims have to give zakah?

Answer 35

no, only muslims w savings greater than certain figure (nisab) required to give zakah

Question 36

what is khums?

Answer 36

- important part of shi’a islam - in addition to zakah, they donate 20% of excess income/earnings - half goes to shi’a religious leaders to be spent on things necessary for religion - half to poor

Question 37

which month of the islamic calendar is ramadan?

Answer 37

9th and most important

Question 38

what do muslims believe happened during ramadan?

Answer 38

qur’an started to be revealed to muhammad

Question 39

what do muslims do during ramadan?

Answer 39

- fast during daylight hours for whole month (food & water) - also give up smoking & sex during daylight hours

Question 40

why is fasting during ramadan important?

Answer 40

- focus is on god, for which purity of thought is required to cleanse the soul & free it from harm - requires self-discipline: muslims show they can sacrifice physical needs as evidence of submission to God - use Ramadan to remind selves of suffering & hunger of poor, and to give money as a result

Question 41

what happens during the Night of Power?

Answer 41

- marks beginning of God’s revelation to Muhammad - Muslims devote themselves to prayers and studying Qur’an throughout the night if they can - believed prayers and stuff are more powerful during this night

Question 42

what are the origins of Hajj?

Answer 42

- prophet Ibrahim told by God to take wife Hajira & son Ishmael to Arabia - then told to leave them on own for few days, but they ran out of food & water - H ran up 2 hills to look for help then prayed to God for help - I struck foot on ground & water gushed up (well of Zamzam). they then traded water for food & other supplies - Ibrahim returned & told by God to build a shrine (Ka’aba)

Question 43

what do muslims during hajj?

Answer 43

- **ihram**: sacred state before Hajj - ritual washing, praying & putting on Ihram clothing - **circling of Ka’aba:** anti-clockwise 7 times & recite pilgrims prayer “Here I am. Oh Lord, at your service. Praise & blessings to you.” - **Arafat**: 13 mile walk/ride to Arafat (from Mina) where Muhammad preached his last sermon - **pebbles at Mina:** 3 stone walls called the Jamarat at Mins which represent the devil & temptation, they throw pebbles at walls to show rejection of evil - **return to Makkah:** circle Ka’aba 7 more times, then spend 2 more nights in Mina b4 Hajj ends

Question 44

why is Hajj important?

Answer 44

- bc of spiritual transformation it can bring & greater awareness of God - teaches sincerity & humility, as well as inner peace. many believe it can lead to forgiveness of sins - shows self-discipline whilst emphasising unity & equality - ihram clothing ensures no distinction between rich/poor - reminds them of faith & examples set by I, I and H

Question 45

what do shi’as add to the shahadah?

Answer 45

the phrase ‘And Ali is the friend of God’ to demonstrate belief that Ali was true successor

Question 46

what is the shahadah? (like the literal words of it)

Answer 46

‘there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah’

Question 47

why is the shahadah important?

Answer 47

- sincerely reciting this statement in front of Muslims is only requirement for joining Muslim community - said when a baby is born, and, if possible when someone dies - first & most important of 5 pillars but also foundation for other 4